Maybe Newcastle are crawling over the finish line rather than sprinting for glory, but we’re grateful nonetheless.

United travelled not only after a dreadful derby defeat but with the worst away record in the Premier League bar doomed Reading.

Only eight points gathered from 16 matches – a solitary win and five draws dotted throughout 10 defeats.

They also headed over the Tyne Bridge having lost the last four times they have done so, which is why a single point gained at the Hawthorns was quietly accepted by the Toon faithful.

After all, Wigan, Reading and QPR are committing suicide and all that matters to the Mags is survival so let’s get the season done, dusted and put on the shelf.

Newcastle actually dropped three places to 16th after another away game without a win, but the only fact that matters is that they are SIX points ahead of the three clubs who couldn’t escape with Houdini in their colours.

Wigan, it must be admitted, have a match in hand – but they have to win it.

On the first-half performance United deserved a stirring victory. On the second they most certainly did not.

How often have we said that? Ninety minutes just seems too long at times.

United’s trouble of late has been scoring goals and, sure enough, they squandered a barrowload of opportunities after Yoan Gouffran’s flicked header gave them a precious eighth-minute lead.

The Magpies had to put the game to bed before the interval while they were in the ascendancy, but they created clear chances then missed them.

Former United coach Steve Clarke rejigged his side at half- time, bringing on a third forward to try to halt a mediocre second half to the season, and it worked.

However, it wasn’t their forward players who hauled them back level but full-back Billy Jones, the most unlikely of finishers.

There has been a feeling within the SJP camp that they were too severely criticised after the 3-0 derby demolition, but a glance at the league table today, despite a valuable point, will tell them why the finger was unerringly pointed.

It wasn’t just a tame surrender to their biggest rivals but the fact that it typified United’s current plight, where they are still tied to the bottom of the table so late in a season.

Ordinary matches have become a mountain to climb. That happens when results are poor.

Nothing is easy and words alone cannot camouflage reality. Sometimes blatant defiance makes it difficult to see the truth especially when there is no wish to confront thoughts once unthinkable.

United have been trying to get to 40 points as quickly as possible for some time. They are still three short.

I guess what decides how good a team is – United last season and this – is not how good individuals can be at the top of their game but how consistent they are over a long stretch.

That is the gap United have to confront right now.

Last season top of the range, this considerably less so.

Ironically, having laboured through treacle for most of this campaign, Sunderland are suddenly flying upon the arrival of jack in the box Paolo Di Canio.

A second successive victory has seen them leapfrog their neighbours, another Toon blow, but really that matters not.

Only third-bottom Wigan count in black-and-white terms. Thankfully, there are only four matches to go for Geordies before sanity returns.